Rhode Island
Current series
SloganOcean State
Size12 in × 6 in
30 cm × 15 cm
MaterialAluminum
Serial formatAB-123
123-456
1AB234
1A234
Introduced2023 (2023)
Availability
Issued byRhode Island Department of Revenue, Division of Motor Vehicles
History
First issuedApril 13, 1904 (1904-04-13)

The U.S. state of Rhode Island first required its residents to register their motor vehicles and display license plates in 1904. Plates are currently issued by the Rhode Island Department of Revenue through its Division of Motor Vehicles. Front and rear plates are required for most classes of vehicles, while only rear plates are required for motorcycles and trailers.

Passenger baseplates

1904 to 1960

In 1956, the United States, Canada, and Mexico came to an agreement with the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators, the Automobile Manufacturers Association and the National Safety Council that standardized the size for license plates for vehicles (except those for motorcycles) at 6 inches (15 cm) in height by 12 inches (30 cm) in width, with standardized mounting holes.[1] The 1956 (dated 1957) issue was the first Rhode Island license plate that complied with these standards.

Image Dates issued Design Slogan Serial format Serials issued Notes
1904–08 White serial on black porcelain plate; "REGISTERED IN R.I." at top none 1234 1 to approximately 3300
1908–12 White serial on black porcelain plate; "RI" at right none 1234 3301 to approximately 8700
1912–17 Black serial on white porcelain plate; vertical "RI" at left none 12345 1 to approximately 35000
1918 White serial on black flat metal plate; "R.I. 1918" centered at bottom none 12345 1 to approximately 30000 First dated plate.
1919 Black serial on white flat metal plate; "R.I. 1919" centered at bottom none 12345 1 to approximately 32000
1920 White serial on black flat metal plate; "R.I. 1920" centered at bottom none 12345 1 to approximately 37000
1921 Embossed black serial on white plate with border line; "R.I. 1921" centered at bottom none 12345 1 to approximately 43000 First embossed plate.
1922 Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; "R.I. 1922" centered at bottom none 12345 1 to approximately 50000
1923 Embossed black serial on white plate with border line; "R.I. 1923" centered at bottom none 12-345 1 to approximately 62-000
1924 Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; "R.I. 1924" centered at bottom none 12-345 1 to approximately 86-000
1925 Embossed black serial on white plate with border line; "R.I. 1925" centered at bottom none 12-345 1 to approximately 85-000
1926 Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; "R.I. 1926" centered at top none 12-345 1 to approximately 90-000
1927 Embossed black serial on white plate with border line; "27 R.I." centered at top none 12-345 1 to approximately 97-000
1928 Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; "R.I. 1928" centered at bottom none 123-456 1 to approximately 108-000
1929 Embossed black serial on white plate with border line; "29–R.I." centered at bottom none 123-456 1 to approximately 109-000
1930 Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; "RHODE ISLAND 1930" at bottom none 123-456 1 to approximately 115-000 First use of the full state name.
1931 Embossed black serial on white plate with border line; "31 RHODE ISLAND" centered at bottom none 123-456 1 to approximately 116-000
1932 Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; "RHODE ISLAND 1932" centered at top none 123-456 1 to approximately 113-000
1933 Embossed black serial on white plate with border line; "33 RHODE ISLAND" centered at top none 123-456 1 to approximately 117-000
1934 Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; "1934 RHODE ISLAND" centered at bottom none 123-456 1 to approximately 125-000
1935 Embossed black serial on white plate with border line; "RHODE ISLAND 35" centered at bottom none 123-456 1 to approximately 130-000
1936 Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; "1636 RHODE ISLAND 1936" centered at top "300TH YEAR" centered at bottom 123-456 1 to approximately 140-000 Commemorated the 300th anniversary of the settlement of Rhode Island.
1937 Embossed black serial on white plate with border line; "1937 RHODE ISLAND" centered at bottom none 123-456 1 to approximately 148-000
1938 Embossed white serial on black plate; "R.I. 1938" at bottom none A1234 B1 to approximately P9000
1939 Embossed black serial on white plate; "R.I. 39" at top none A-1234 B-1 to approximately R-5000
1940 Embossed white serial on black plate; "R.I. 40" at bottom none A-1234 B-1 to approximately T-4000
1941 As 1939 base, but with "R.I. 41" at top none A-1234 B-1 to approximately W-9000
1942–43 As 1940 base, but with "R.I. 42" at bottom none A-1234 B-1 to approximately W-8000 Revalidated for 1943 with windshield stickers, due to metal conservation for World War II.
1944–46 Embossed white serial on black plate; "R.I." at bottom, offset to left, with tab slots to right none A-1234 B-1 to approximately W-5000 Validated for 1944 with orange tabs, for 1945 with green tabs, and until July 31, 1946 with red tabs.
1946–47 Embossed black serial on silver plate; "RHODE ISLAND" at bottom, with tab box between the two words none A1234 B1 to approximately Y9999 Validated until December 31, 1946 with silver tabs, then for 1947 with white tabs.
1948–50 Embossed black serial on white plate; "RHODE ISLAND" at bottom, with tab slots between the two words none A1234 B1 to Z9999 Tab-slot plates validated each year with white tabs. All-numeric serials from 1 through 10000 were reserved, while 10001 through 19999 were used on replacement plates.
12345 30001 to approximately 59000
1950 As above, but with "50" instead of tab slots 59001 to approximately 71000
1951 Embossed white serial on black plate; "RHODE 51 ISLAND" at bottom none A1234
12345		 1951 plates revalidated for 1952 with windshield stickers. 1952 plates issued only to new registrants.
1952 As above, but with "52" instead of "51"

 1953–54 Embossed black serial on white plate; "RHODE 53 ISLAND" at bottom none A1234 B1 to Z9999 Revalidated for 1954 with black tabs.
12345 30001 to approximately 85000
1955–56 Embossed white serial on black plate; "RHODE 55 ISLAND" at bottom none A1234 B1 to Z9999 Revalidated for 1956 with white tabs.
12345 30001 to 99999
1957–58 Embossed black serial on white plate with border line; "RHODE ISLAND 57" at top none AB123 AA1 to
WW999		 Letters I, Q and U not used in serials, and X, Y and Z used only on replacement plates.[2] Revalidated for 1958 with black tabs.

 1959–60 Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; "RHODE ISLAND 59" at top none AB123 AA1 to
WW999		 Unused and replacement serial letters same as on 1957–58 base. Revalidated for 1960 with white tabs.

1961 to present

Image Dates issued Design Slogan Serial format Serials issued Notes
1961–66 Embossed black serial on white plate with border line; "RHODE ISLAND" at top, offset to left none AB123 AA1 to
WW999;
AI1 to approximately KX500		 Validated each year with stickers, placed to the right of the state name. Letters I, Q, U, X, Y and Z used in standard serials from 1965 after the original allocation was exhausted.[2]
1967–71 Embossed black serial on non-reflective white plate with border line; "RHODE ISLAND" centered at bottom "DISCOVER" centered at top AB·123 AA·100 to
ZZ·999 (see right)		 Revalidated with stickers until 1980. After serial KZ·999 was issued, the letters I, Q, U, X, Y and Z were not used until WW·999 was reached in 1969, after which all serials with Q, U, X, Y and Z as the first letter were issued.[2]
1972–79 As 1967–71 base, but reflective "OCEAN STATE" centered at top AB-123 Unused and reissued 1967–71 serials Issued only to new registrants. During 1977, some plates were manufactured in New York, using that state's serial dies (with the letters taller than the digits) and omitting the slogan.
1980–86 Embossed blue serial on reflective white plate with border line; "RHODE ISLAND" embossed in blue centered at bottom; blue anchor embossed at top left and last two digits of year of issue at top right "OCEAN STATE" embossed in blue centered at top AB-123 AA-100 to ZZ-999 (see right) On all variants of this base, serials were issued and reissued in random order, as existing registrants generally retained the serials from their previous plates (including 1967–79 plates) when receiving new ones. During 1992, plates were manufactured in Massachusetts, using that state's serial dies.
1986 As above, but with "Rhode Island" screened in blue centered at bottom "Ocean State" screened in blue centered at top
1987–93 As 1980–86 all-embossed plates, but without year of issue "OCEAN STATE" as on 1980–86 all-embossed plates
1993–95 As above, but with state name (still all upper case) and anchor screened "OCEAN STATE" as above, but screened
1995–96 As 1987–93 plates "OCEAN STATE" as on 1987–93 plates

 1996–2023 Embossed navy blue serial on reflective white plate with gray wave graphic; "Rhode Island" screened in navy blue centered at top; navy blue anchor screened at top left "Ocean State" screened in navy blue centered at bottom 12345 (variable number of digits)


AB-12 and AB-123



123-456


1AB234

 1 to 99999


AA-00 to ZZ-999
(1996-2007, 2015–present)

710-001 (issued in reversed sequential order)
(2007 to 2015)


1AA000 to 1AY173 (as of February 1, 2021)

 Colloquially referred to as the "wave plate".
2023-present Screened navy blue serial on reflective light blue plate with five-wave graphic; "Rhode Island" screened in navy blue centered at top; navy blue anchor screened at top left "Ocean State" script screened in navy blue centered at bottom 12345 (variable number of digits)


AB-12 and AB-123


123-456


1AB234

 Referred to as the Ocean Plate.

Optional plates

Image Dates issued Design Slogan Serial format Serials issued Notes
1992–present Embossed blue serial on reflective white plate; gray sailboat graphic screened in the center; "RHODE ISLAND" screened in red centered at top, with five red stripes to left and right; blue bar screened at bottom containing thirteen white stars "Ocean State" screened in blue centered between sailboat and blue bar as requested by registrant: 12345
AB-12
AB-123

Non-passenger plates

Image Type Dates issued Design Serial format Serials issued Notes
Commercial 1996–2000 Similar to wave passenger base but with "COMMERCIAL" in leui of Ocean State 123456 1 to 260089, plus reissues of dormant serials
2023–present As above, but with Ocean Wave background
Combination 1996–2023 Similar to wave passenger base but with "COMBINATION" in leui of Ocean State 123456 1 to 260089, plus reissues of dormant serials
2023–present As above, but with Ocean Wave background
Fire (Municipal) ####–present White Background with red embossing, Fire on top, Rhode Island on bottom 123 Used for fire apparatus and non-private recuses
Jitney 1996–2023 Similar to wave passenger base but with "JITNEY" in leui of Ocean State 1234 Used by Rhode Island Public transit authority buses
2023–present As above, but with Ocean Wave background
Motorcycle 1996–2000 Similar to wave passenger base but with border line; "MOTORCYCLE" embossed at top and "RI" at bottom left 12345 1 to 99999, plus reissues of dormant serials
2023–present As above, but with "MOTORCYCLE" and "RI" screened, and with anchor at top left
Municipal ####–present White background, embossed with "TOWN" or "CITY" with RHODE ISLAND at the bottom 123 Used for town and city vehicles
Police (Municipal) ####–present Blue Background with Ocean State with anchor on top, "Police" diagonally descending (left justified), with Rhode Island on bottom 123 used by town or city police vehicles
Public 1996–2023 Similar to wave passenger base but with "PUBLIC" in leui of Ocean State 1234 used by Rhode Island Transit Authority vehicles and vehicles for hire (i.e. chauffeur)
2023–present As above, but with Ocean Wave background
Radio Operator 1996–2000 Indistinguishable from the private passenger registration type AB#BBB, AB#BB, where A=(A,K,N,W), B=(A-Z), #=(0-9)
2023–present As above, but with RADIO OPERATOR in leui of Ocean State
State ####–present White or Yellow background, state seal with RHODE ISLAND in alternate sailboat style 123 Used by state vehicles and Publicly owned utilities (i.e. Kent County Water Authority, Narragansett Bay Commission, etc)
State Police ####–present Black background white text, Ocean State with anchor on top, State Police double line left justified, with Rhode Island on bottom 123

Trivia

License plates with low serial numbers have been distributed by politicians, as a way of rewarding supporters or associates, since the state first issued plates in 1904. Such plates have become a status symbol, similar to Delaware's low-numbered plates.[3]

Additionally, an official lottery for so-called "preferred plates" was implemented in 1995 through the Governor's Office.[4] Passenger plates with serials consisting of two letters and up to two digits, one letter and up to three digits, or all-numeric with up to five digits, are considered "preferred plates", as are commercial, motorcycle and combination plates with serials up to four digits, war veterans' plates with serials up to three digits, and National Guard plates with serials up to two digits.

Rhode Island is also one of the few states that allows plate owners to transfer their plates to other family members in their will.[5]

Rhode Island reissues plate numbers to new owners if that plate number is a inactive plate not registered in several years.

References

  1. ↑ Garrish, Christopher (October 2016). "Reconsidering the Standard Plate Size". Plates. Vol. 62, no. 5. Automobile License Plate Collectors Association.
  2. 1 2 3 Tanner, Eric N. "Rhode Island Passenger License Plates". allaboutlicenseplates.com. Retrieved November 19, 2020.
  3. ↑ Irazabal, Jordan. "The Delaware 3000". TheDelaware3000.org. Retrieved November 25, 2014.
  4. ↑ "Plates: Overview". RI Division of Motor Vehicles. Retrieved November 24, 2014.
  5. ↑ "Transfer at Death". RI Division of Motor Vehicles. Retrieved November 24, 2014.
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